Whiffletree.



J. J. BUNTING.

WHIFPLETREE.

PPLIUATION FILED JAN. 1a. 1910.

958,089s Patented may 17, ma.

JOI-IN JAMES BUNTING, 0F GRANDVIEV, WASHINGTON.

WHIFFLETREE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 17, 191).

Application filed January 18, 1910. Serial No. 538,752.

T o all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN JAMES BUNT- ING a citizen of the United States, residing at Grandview, in the county of Yakima and State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in IvVhiiiletrees, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in whiflietrees. Y

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of whitlietrees for two horse vehicles, and to enable the doubletree and the swingletrees to be arranged in the same horizontal plane for eliminating twisting or rolling, and at the same time to permit a free movement of the swingletrees, and to maintain an equal pull on both horses at all times.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and 'novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing z-Figure 1 is a plan view of a draft appliance provided with whiffletrees, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, illustrating another form of the invention. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the support, illustrated in Fig. 4.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

In the embodiment. of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, 1 designates a tongue or pole, having pivotally mounted on it, by the means hereinafter described, an arcuate doubletree 2, which pivotally supports at its terminals a pair of swingletrees 3. The doubletree 2 consists of a body portion of wood, or other suitable material, reinforced at its upper and lower faces by a pair of metallic bars 4, curved longitudinally to conform to the configuration of the arcuate body portion of the doubletree and secured at intervals to the same by countersunk fastening devices 4. The body portion of the arcuate doubletree tapers from the center to the ends, and the reinforcing upper and lower metallic bars, which are coextensive in length with the said body portion, are provided at their terminals with registering eyes 5, arranged in pairs and spaced apart to receive the swingletrees 3, which are secured between the eyes 5 by pivot bolts 6. lThe pivot bolts, which pass through the eyes 5, pierce the swingletrees equi-distant from the ends thereof.

The means for mounting the doubletree on the tongue comprises a substantially triangular metallic frame 7, tapered forwardly and provided at the back with a curved plate 8, connecting the rear ends of the sides of the triangular frame and extending laterally therefrom to form terminal attaching portions, which are secured to the front face of the doubletree by bolts 9. The triangular metallic frame 7 is provided at its front or apeX with an eye, through which passes a pivot bolt 10, which also passes through the tongue. The pivots of the doubletree and the swingletrees are in transverse alinement and the pivots of the swingletrees are equidist-ant from the tongue in every position of the doubletree, so that the draft is equalized and an equal pull on both of the horses is maintained at all times. Also the space at the opposite sides of the triangular frame is open to permit a free movement of the swingletrees. A strap or bracket 11 extends over the swinging frame 7 and the doubletree, and it provides means for retaining the doubletree and the swinging frame against Atilting or other displacement. The strap or bracket 11 is secured at its ends to the tongue by bolts 12, and it is also connected therewith by the pivot bolt 10 and an intermediate bolt 13, located within the triangular frame adjacent to the front face of the curved plate 8, and adapted to operate as a safety device to prevent the doubletree from becoming disconnected from the tongue should the pivot bolt 10 become broken.

Cooperating with the retaining strap or bracket is a supporting bracket or plate 14, having horizontal side portions located at opposite sides of the tongue and contiguous to the lower faces of the doubletree, and connected with each other by a depending yoke or loop 15, which embraces the tongue. The depending yoke or loop, which is rectangular, conforms to the conguration of the tongue and is secured to the same by a horizontal bolt 16. It' desired the laterally projecting horizontally disposed supporting portions of the bracket 14 and the bearing surface of the retaining strap or bracket ll may be covered with leather, rubber belting, or other suitable material to prevent noise and friction. It may, however, be preferable to equip the retaining strap or bracket with a roller 17, mounted in a rectangularly bent oit-set portion 17 of the retainingbracket or strap ll, and constructed of rubber, or other suitable material to prevent noise and friction.

In Figs. Ll and 5 is illustrated another form of the invention, the base plate or bracket being provided with laterally extending loops 14, having angularly disposed outer ends forming spindles for rollers 20. The laterally projecting loops space the rollers 2O from the tongue and the said rollers forni a support for the doubletree to prevent the same from twisting, whereby the doubletree is maintained in a horizontal position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination with a tongue, of an arcuate doubletree, means connected with the center of the doubletree for pivotally connecting the same with the tongue, swingletrees pivotally connected with the eyes of the doubletree, and a base or supporting bracket composed of a central loop or yoke portion embracing and secured to the tongue, and laterally extending supporting portions projecting from opposite sides of the tongue and receiving and supporting the doubletree.

2. The combination with a tongue, of an arcuate doubletree, means centrally connected with the doubletree for pivoting the same to the tongue, a retaining stra) or bracket secured to the tongue and extent ing over the doubletree and provided with an off-set portion, and a longitudinally disposed combined anti-friction and sound deadening roller mounted in the off-set portion of the retaining strap or bracket and bearing against the upper face of the doubletree, and swingletrees connected with the terminals of the doubletree.

3. The combination with a tongue, of an arcuate doubletree, means centrally connected with the doubletree for pivoting the same to the tongue, a base or supporting bracket having a central loop or yoke to embrace the tongue and provided with supporting portions extending laterally from opposite sides of the tongue and receiving the doubletree, a retaining strap or bracket extending over the doubletree and secured to the tongue, a coinbined sound deadening and antifriction roller mounted in the retaining strap or bracket and bearing against the upper face oi' the doubletree, and swingletrees connected with the terminals of the doubletree.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN JAMES BUNTING. Vitnesses:

WV. J. EARNnsT, F. S. BAYLEs. 

